You’ve done it. You’ve gone through treatment, you’ve transitioned to life in sobriety, and you’re doing well. You have found the joy in life and are no longer a prisoner of addiction. But then you get a phone call. A friend has lost their battle with addiction. It could be someone you knew growing up, one of your old pals you used to use with, or someone you met in rehab. No matter where the friendship started, it hurts just the same. You have so many questions in your mind as you play over your life, your addiction, your treatment, and your decisions afterward. What did you do differently? Are you at risk of relapsing? Even worse, are you at risk of losing your battle too?
These are heavy questions that may flood your mind after the loss of a loved one from addiction, especially when you’ve battled it yourself. However, you must take a step back and take a second to think rationally about the situation. Your friend passing away does not reflect on your journey or your sobriety. You should also stick with your treatment and talk to someone through this difficult time. Here are some tips for coping with the loss of someone to addiction while you are in recovery yourself.
Grieving is a part of healing. When you lose someone you love, especially to a battle that you’ve fought yourself, it can be heart-wrenching. Holding in your emotions will do nothing but bring more pain. Allow yourself to cry, to feel the heartbreak of the loss. Grieving is okay and a necessary part of the healing process. You should also keep in mind that everyone grieves differently. You may not react in the same way, especially because you know what that person has been through. The situation may hit you harder, or it may push you into being even more motivated in your recovery. However, you grieve, make sure that you are safe and healthy in doing so.
The time after learning that someone you care about has passed away from an overdosed is critical to your recovery. Remember that your sobriety is your priority, and if you are feeling overwhelmed, you should contact someone that can help and hold you accountable during this time. This should be someone who understands how to deal with situations such as these, such as a mental health professional, a therapist, or a sponsor from your support group. Contacting these individuals will allow you to talk out your feelings and get the help you need. This is especially important if you are feeling like your sobriety is at risk. Reach out and prevent a relapse from happening.
Use your loved one’s death as a motivation to stay on track in your recovery. Them passing away from an overdose doesn’t mean that you have to. This time should remind you of why you went through treatment and did all of the hard work to become sober. You fought to get to this point and you shouldn’t give it up because of your grief. If you are feeling at risk, contact a treatment center or mental health professional immediately.
Grieve can cause you to want to isolate and be alone, but this is the opposite of what you should do. Be around others to keep you busy and distracted. This can be grabbing a coffee with a friend, taking a walk with them, or anything that keeps you from being alone. Loneliness is a common trigger for relapse and you should be prepared to avoid that nagging feeling of wanting to isolate.
Doing something such as bringing flowers to their grave, having a memorial service, or giving back to the addiction recovery community in your loved one’s name can help you move through grief. You will feel motivated to keep their memory alive and remember the things you love about them.
When you find yourself going through this time of heartbreak, loss, and grief, use the energy to turn it into something positive. Give back to the addiction community in their honor and use their passing as a motivator to help others. You can help those that are struggling with addiction or with their treatment and also motivate yourself to stay on track with your sobriety.
If you feel as if you are at risk of relapsing or do relapse during this time, remember that it does not erase your hard work and progress thus far. Reach out for help immediately to get back to maintaining your recovery and sobriety as soon as possible. You can do this by going to therapy, a support group, or a treatment center. Keep going and remember you are strong.
Losing someone to addiction is possibly one of the worst things you can go through, especially if you are a recovering addict yourself. This loss can leave you lost, heartbroken, grief-stricken, and anxious about your own recovery. This is why it is imperative to take care of your own sobriety during this time as you grieve. You should allow yourself to grieve, but you should also reach out to sober friends to help you get through this time. You can also reach out to your sponsor or therapist for help in relapse prevention during this time as well. It is understandable to be concerned about your recovery, but remember that you can use this as a motivator for staying the course. Distract yourself by giving back to the recovery community, going to support groups, or just being around friends. If you need further help, contact us at Northstar Transitions. You can reach us at (303) 558-6400. We are here to help you heal and get through this difficult time.
